Christmas City Fair Opens With Parade, Mock Arrests, Fines

July 20, 1985|by SONIA CSENCSITS, The Morning Call

More than 100 booths featuring cuisine from around the world and crafts of every sort, including leather, lace, wood and glass, are part of the Christmas City Fair that opened last night under the Hill-to Hill Bridge in Bethlehem.

The fair officially opened its three-day run with a parade and cake- cutting ceremony. But, before the official opening took place, Bethlehem Mayor Paul M. Marcincin was among several dignitaries "arrested" by Bethlehem Jaycees. The Jaycees are sponsoring a Jail-A-Thon to raise funds for the American Cancer Society. The mayor was "pardoned" to participate in the opening ceremony, Fine Arts Chairman Nick Kordopatis told the several hundred people at the ceremony.

Along with the mayor, John Howell, president of First Valley Bank; James Davis, of the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce; Bob Gehris, sports announcer for Twin County Cable Television, and David Laudenslager of the Jaycees were "charged." Laudenslager was fined $2,000, the others were fined $250 each. They were put into "jail" and were allowed to make phone calls to raise their bail.

The mayor said the fair is the beginning of "many great happenings," and said the success of the fair is due to the "dedication, cooperation and hard work of many groups and individuals." Kordopatis said the fair is the "biggest ever."

The fair was dedicated to the late John C. Gosztonyi, who was a member of the Fine Arts Commission.

Also taking part in the ceremony were state Rep. William Rybak, D-135th District; City Councilmen James DelGrosso and Otto Ehrsam; Msgr. James M. Butler of Holy Infancy Catholic Church, and John Cornish of the fair committee.

Among the special events today will be an 8 p.m. Lantern Light Tour conducted by Historic Bethlehem Inc.

As part of the 40 Days for Peace Observance by the Peace in the Valley Coalition, cranes for peace can be made at the "Bread, Not Bombs" booth. The cranes are made by origami, a method of folding paper. The crane is a symbol of health and happiness in Japan, and the paper ones are being sent to Hiroshima, Japan, to symbolize the plight of victims of survivors of the Hiroshima bombing.